CFL mid-season awards

It’s week 13 of the Canadian Football League season and with only seven more games to be played before playoffs start, the eight teams are really starting to battle it out for top spot.

Who are the players that are going to lead them there? The Reflector has made our picks for the guys who have made the biggest difference for their teams so far.

But remember, like any CFL game, the scores and standings will probably change with 30 seconds to go.

Most Outstanding Player – Offensive:

Stamps running back Jon Cornish has impressed this season. Photo: Courtesy of cheneyfreepress.com, cbc.ca

Jon Cornish, RB, Calgary Stampeders

Leading the league with 880 rushing yards, Jon Cornish is a big part of the reason the Calgary Stampeders have stayed afloat this season.

After the early season injury to starting quarterback Drew Tate, the Stampeders needed their other offensive stars to step up. Averaging six yards a carry, Cornish has helped Calgary move the ball and squeak out a few vital wins. His seven touchdowns haven’t hurt either.

Known as the CFL’s best Canadian, Cornish just needs to keep on doing what he’s doing and keep getting Calgary those first-downs. If he can keep up numbers like the 185 yards he put on the scoreboard in the Labour Day rematch with the Eskimos, the Stamps will have a great shot at going to the Grey Cup.

Most Outstanding Player – Defensive:

J:C Sherritt of the Edmonton Eskimoes has stood out on the defensive end. Photo: Courtesy of cheneyfreepress.com, cbc.ca

J.C. Sherritt, LB, Edmonton Eskimos

If you want a reliable guy who’s going to get that tackle, call up J.C. Sherritt. Only in his second season in the CFL, linebacker Sherritt leads the league with 93 tackles in 12 games — 30 more than the guy in second.

At this pace, he just might beat Calvin Tiggle’s 1994 CFL record for 129 tackles in a single season.

With seven games left to do so, Sherritt would have to get five tackles per match-up to get his name in the history book. Most likely this will be an easy feat for Sherritt to accomplish as he’s gotten at least seven tackles in his last four games.

In addition, Sherritt has two quarterback sacks, three interceptions and an impressive three forced fumbles. There’s no telling how high Sherritt’s numbers are going to go by the time November come around.

Most Outstanding Player – Special Teams:

The Tiger-Cats have had no problems with Chris Williams running the ball back. Photo: Courtesy of cheneyfreepress.com, cbc.ca

Chris Williams, WR/KR, Hamilton Tiger-Cats

Chris Williams just might be going from the CFL’s most outstanding rookie in 2011, to its most outstanding player in 2012.

Doing double duty as both a wide receiver and kick returner, Williams has recorded 11 touchdowns in the first half of the season — five of them return TD’s. He’s also third in the league with 900 receiving yards.

As a both a receiver and punt returner, Williams averages 16 yards a turn. William’s only down point this season so far was his lapse of judgment on July 21 when he ran back a missed field goal from Montreal. Williams was yards away from another TD when he decided to take his time getting to the end zone and celebrate instead.

Montreal’s linebacker Brian Ridgeway jumped on the opportunity caught up to Williams and took him down on the one-yard line. Luckily for Williams, it looks like he’ll have many more opportunities to celebrate in the second half of the season.

Mid-season Grey Cup Favourite:

B.C. Lions

We’re over halfway through the 2012 season and there hasn’t been a team as consistent as the B.C. Lions.

With eight wins and three losses, they have the most victories out of any team in the CFL. The B.C. Lions seem to be the team that work best together and get the job done as one.

That said they aren’t the only teams in heavy contention. Calgary, Montreal and Toronto are pumping up to make these last seven games count.

Players like the Stamps; Nik Lewis; the Al’s Anthony Calvillo and the Argo’s Chad Owens all feel the need to go out with bang. They all have the skill set to do so.

The parity of this year’s CFL teams will make the end to this season an exciting and close finish.